Zoroastrianism
Facts
  • Founded in the 6th century before christ (500-600 b.c)
  • Ancent Persian religion
  • Oldest monotheistic religion in the world.
  • Comes from the philosophical teachings of Zoroaster.
  • Had more influence on the world and other faiths than any other faith
  • First concept of heaven and hell.
  • First concept of future resurrection.
  • First concept of last judgement.
  • First concept of life everlasting.
  • First concept of the virgin birth of the savior.
  • First concept of slaughter of the innocent.
  • Followers worship in fire temple.
Beleifs
  • They beleive in a single god Ahura Mazda.
  • They beleive in a counter spirit to Ahura Mazda named Angra Mainyu. He is symbolized with blood and violence.
  • Followers must choose which to worship.
  • In the end of time goodness will triumph over evil and the good will live eternally.
  • When someone dies, their soul is judged on whether or not their good deeds outweigh their bad.
  • The world goes through 3 states: Creation, the present state where good and evil both exist in the world, and the final state where time ends and the good live eternally in heaven.
  • Their heaven is unlike the christian heaven, it is the earth that has been removed of all evil and only goods exists.
  • Hell is a temporary place, all occupants of hell are to be released when they are deemed good, almost like jail in todays society.
  • The saoshyant (savior) will be born of a virgin and will raise the dead and judge everyone in the final judgement.
Practices
  • They live by the motto, "good words, good thoughts, good deeds."
  • Celebrate a coming-of-age ritual in which followers of the age of seven are given a girdle and a shirt that they wear for the rest of their lives.
  • They have a purification ritual involving a dog in the belief that the dogs gaze will cast out evil spirits.
  • They feed the sacred fire, which burns all day every day, 5 times a day
  • They also pray 5 times a day while feeding the fire.
  • When someone dies, they are placed in a room for 3 days, during this time a fire while burn the entire time and a dog will come in 5 times a day, again for the belief that the dogs gaze will cast out evil spirits.
  • Every month is dedicated